How to Teach Children to Greet Adults (and other kids!)

How to Teach Children to Greet Adults (and other kids!)

As one who interacts with children other than my own kids throughout the week, I'm constantly surprised by both the depth and absence of many kids ability to connect with adults.

Sharing a greeting of hello, gratitude or goodbye, is an essential skill that every child of speaking age can give.

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Greetings

To help our children develop the habits that will make them charming adolescents and adults, it's essential that we give them the tools for success.

A first introduction to greetings is to teach children to make eye contact and simply say, 'hello.' If your child runs to the shy end of the extrovert spectrum, by all means lend a hand and a nod of support, but work with your child to overcome his fear and share a greeting.

The next step in an introduction includes share each person's name. A child should address an adult by their last name unless s/he is a family member or very close family friend. Always err on the formal side.

Finally, some form of pleasantry should be exchanged. For example, 'it's nice to meet you', or 'how are you today?'

In the manners classes that I teach, the best method for helping children learn friendly introductions is to practice and parrot. We practice with a mnemonic I use called SHE Has Charm.

SHE stands for:

Shoulders - shoulders back and spine upright

Handshake - firm, full handshake with two or three pumps of the elbow and release

Eye contact - engage with eye contact throughout the introduction and exchange of names and pleasantries

Stranger Danger

Teaching children to be wary of strangers is a sound tactic to keep families safe. There is another layer of this instruction that shows children that when accompanied by a parent or trusted adult, it is essential to engage in a positive way.

After all, a stranger could be a friend you just haven't met yet.

Success Builds Confidence

Because social norms are new to many children, it's important to praise them for all the steps they're taking to adolescence. Be sure to share your appreciation and pride for their polite manners. Verbalize and show this often to reinforce great behavior.

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